Firefighter injured in morning blaze is ID'd (Update)

A firefighter was injured fighting a blaze at Lincoln University early Wednesday morning.

According to Oxford Union Fire Co. chief Brian Kelly, 2nd Class Firefighter and EMT Timothy McDonnell fell through a burnt portion of the first floor and into the basement of a residence on the Lincoln University campus.

When McDonnell fell through the floor, Kelly said the engine lieutenant on the scene called an emergency Mayday, and McDonnell was immediately evacuated from the building.

Kelly said McDonnell was transported to Christiana Hospital for evaluation, where he was admitted to the ICU in stable condition.

A press release from Union Fire Co. later stated that McDonnell received non-life threatening injuries, and that medical staff continues to monitor his condition.

The fire broke out at 7:55 a.m. at an unoccupied two-unit residence that had been used by Lincoln University employees living on campus. The building had recently been undergoing extensive renovations.

James A. Connor, assistant director of public safety at Lincoln University, said the cause of the fire is under investigation by Chester County fire officials and arson is not suspected.

McDonnell was one of the first responders on the scene.

“As he was crawling through the house, he fell through the boards into the basement,” Connor said. “The fire was localized in the basement. The rest of the building had extensive smoke damage.”

McDonnell is a two-year firefighter of the Union Fire Company No. 1, and had previously served with the Avondale Fire Company since 2008.

Kelly said that when the fire went to second alarm, additional companies were called in to assist, including Quarryville, Rising Sun, Md., West Grove, Cochranville and Avondale fire companies.

Kelly said that other than McDonnell’s injuries, no other injuries were reported and no one was removed from the scene via emergency crews.

“I’m impressed with the response of the fire companies,” Connor said. “They arrived very quickly.”